Manatees are on the move

(FILE) Picture taken at the Singapore Zoo, on March 11, 2003 of a newborn Manatee swimming with the help of its mother, Eva, hours after being born. Guatemalan environmentalists found on August 14, 2008 in Izabal, some 350km northeast of Guatemala City, a dead manatee -a species in danger of extinction, of which there are only about 40 specimens in the Caribbean coast- allegedly killed by hunters who would then sell its meat. AFP PHOTO/STRAITS TIMES (Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images) - AFP/Getty Images

(FILE) Picture taken on April 16, 2005 of a Manatee surfacing for air in a canal in Miami, Florida. Guatemalan environmentalists found on August 14, 2008 in Izabal, some 350km northeast of Guatemala City, a dead manatee -a species in danger of extinction, of which there are only about 40 specimens in the Caribbean coast- allegedly killed by hunters who would then sell its meat. AFP PHOTO/Robert SULLIVAN (Photo credit should read ROBERT SULLIVAN/AFP/Getty Images) ROBERT SULLIVAN AFP/Getty Images

HOMESTEAD, FL - MAY 15: Patsy the Manatee waits as members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Geological Survey, the Miami Seaquarium and other organizations help release her back into the wild on May 15, 2009 in Homestead, Florida. The Manatee was released after Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists and volunteers from the Dolphin Research Center rescued her on April 29, 2009, after discovering her flipper had become severely entangled in monofilament fishing line. During her treatment and rehabilitation, veterinarians determined Patsy was pregnant and likely to give birth this summer. The veterinarians cleared her for release so she can continue to heal on her own and deliver her calf in the wild. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Joe Raedle Getty Images

A pair of Manatee near Pad 39A May 13, 2010 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch of Atlantis is scheduled for May 14. During the 12-day mission, Atlantis and the mission's six astronauts are delivering an Integrated Cargo Carrier and a Russian-built Mini Research Module to the International Space Station. AFP PHOTO/DON EMMERT (Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images) DON EMMERT AFP/Getty Images

A young Manatee feeds in the waters around launch pad 39-A as the space shuttle Endeavour is readied on May 14, 2011 at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Endeavour is scheduled to launch on its final flight to the International Space Station on May 15. AFP PHOTO/Bruce Weaver (Photo credit should read BRUCE WEAVER/AFP/Getty Images) BRUCE WEAVER AFP/Getty Images

MIAMI BEACH, FL - OCTOBER 26: Young male manatees swim next to a dead female manatee (L) on October 26, 2011 in Miami Beach, Florida. Dr. Maya Rodriguez from Miami Seaquarium's Veterinarian department, who was on scene, said that, 'the dead manatee had attracted a pod of juvenile male manatees who were trying to mate with her, which is not all that uncommon'. Florida Fish and Wildlife along with Miami Seaquariums veterinarian and other officials were planning on examining the female manatee further to determine a cause of death. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Joe Raedle Getty Images

MIAMI BEACH, FL - OCTOBER 26: A young male manatee swims near a dead female manatee on October 26, 2011 in Miami Beach, Florida. Dr. Maya Rodriguez from Miami Seaquarium's Veterinarian department, who was on scene, said that, 'the dead manatee had attracted a pod of juvenile male manatees who were trying to mate with her, which is not all that uncommon'. Florida Fish and Wildlife along with Miami Seaquariums veterinarian and other officials were planning on examining the female manatee further to determine a cause of death. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Joe Raedle Getty Images

SINGAPORE - MARCH 25: A baby Manatee swims towards some food during a media tour ahead of the opening of River Safari at the Singapore Zoo on March 25, 2013 in Singapore. The River Safari is Wildlife Reserves Singapore's latest attraction. Set over 12 hectares, the park is Asia's first and only river-themed wildlife park and will showcase wildlife from eight iconic river systems of the world, including the Mekong River, Amazon River, the Congo River through to the Ganges and the Mississippi. The attraction is home to 150 plant species and over 300 animal species including 42 endangered species. River Safari will open to the public on April 3. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) Chris McGrath Getty Images

SINGAPORE - MARCH 25: A Manatee is seen at the Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit during a media tour ahead of the opening of River Safari at the Singapore Zoo on March 25, 2013 in Singapore. The River Safari is Wildlife Reserves Singapore's latest attraction. Set over 12 hectares, the park is Asia's first and only river-themed wildlife park and will showcase wildlife from eight iconic river systems of the world, including the Mekong River, Amazon River, the Congo River through to the Ganges and the Mississippi. The attraction is home to 150 plant species and over 300 animal species including 42 endangered species. River Safari will open to the public on April 3. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) Chris McGrath Getty Images

A visitor takes photograph of manatees during a media preview at River Safari in Singapore on March 25, 2013. The river-themed wildlife park, which opens on April 12, nestled between the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari will have 69 exhibits featuring 150 plant species and 300 animal species. AFP PHOTO/MOHD FYROL (Photo credit should read MOHD FYROL/AFP/Getty Images) AFP AFP/Getty Images

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Warmer conditions in the spring send sea cows back to the coast to feed and socialize

(News-Press.com) - Manatees are making their annual spring migration to coastal areas, where they feed on sea grasses and rest in the warm waters.

Also called sea cows, manatees are warm-water marine mammals that are more susceptible to illness when water temperatures drop below 68 degrees. During winter months, when water temperatures can sometimes dip into the 50s, manatees seek refuge in smaller rivers and creeks — which stay several degrees warmer, on average, than coastal waters that are more exposed to cold winds and fronts.

Spots like Manatee Park on the Orange River near Interstate 75 are magnets for wintering manatees as a Florida Power & Light plant discharges warm water into the river. Hundreds can sometimes be seen swimming and resting in the man-made refuge.

Warmer conditions in the spring send sea cows back to the coast, where they feed, socialize and roam bays and beaches. Water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico have risen to 73 degrees off the north end of Fort Myers Beach, according to the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.

Spring also brings warm-weather boating zones to places such as Estero Bay, which is about 15 square miles and stretches from Fort Myers Beach to Bonita Springs. Summer boating zones went into place April 1 and remain through Nov. 15. While the bay is mostly open to boaters during the winter, nearly all of it is considered a slow zone for manatee protection over the next seven months.

Speed limits in most of coastal Lee County are 25 mph in boating channels and open bays. Slow zones require boaters to keep their vessels off plane, or slow enough as to not make a substantial wake. The actual speed can vary between boats as different designs create wakes at difference speeds.

The zones were created by the state after manatee advocacy groups filed lawsuits, mostly in the 1990s, over what they said was a lack of protection for these marine mammals. The issue was so controversial that dock permits for houses and condos were not issued for years in the Lee County area.

Manatee zones in Collier County are in place year-round, so boaters don't need to pay attention to seasonal shifts in April and November.

In Lee County, manatee slow zones in the Caloosahatchee River, Matlacha Pass, the bayside shorelines creeks and bays of Sanibel Island, and the bay waters from the north end of Fort Myers Beach to Julies Island are in place year-round.

Summer slow zones are now in place for the following:

• Pelican Bay on the bayside of Cayo Costa State Park

• Safety Harbor at the north end of North Captiva Island

• Bayside shoreline of Captiva and Buck Key

• St. James City canals

• South side of St. James City to Chino Island

• Hurricane Bay and Bayside Estates canals

The summer zones expire Nov. 15, although manatees may make their winter migration earlier or later than that date — depending on weather conditions and the number of cold fronts that hit the region. Maps and more information on boating zones can be found at myfwc.com.